Storylady

The best news is that all the crew left onboard that will be going home have tested negative which is no surprise to those who had been on the Amsterdam. They will probably be leaving later today as it will be Monday in Manila. 

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

Do you know, did she come onboard before Fremantle, and if so is she still on board?

 

Roy

No she didn’t Roy, she had just been on another ship. And there wasn’t enough time for her to be quarantined and tested before boarding the Amsterdam. Thus, we all put temporary tags on our suitcases. 

47 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

I think Henk and Crystal had their time off in Nov or Dec.  if so, they are still under contract.  The captain’s contract ended in May.

47 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

I think Henk and Crystal had their time off in Nov or Dec.  if so, they are still under contract.  The captain’s contract ended in May.

Not sure, but my understanding is that they are still onboard probably until all the crew that is departing has departed and until the luggage has been shipped. Maybe Captain Jonathan can answer that question once he posts his last blog.

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

A heads up; not every crew member, incl. Indonesians and Filipinos, will be getting off Amsterdam since they are needed in the Deck Dept (sailors, quartermasters/helmsmen, boatmen, security, crew doc, etc.), Technical Dept. (machinists, wipers, etc.). Hotel Dept. (cooks, admin, etc.) and other Depts until the ship reaches her layup location and goes to a minimum required skeleton crew  

You are correct. Presty has stayed behind as have several other Filipino and Indonesian crew members. The ones who stayed were the ones who had the most months left on their contracts from what Presty said. Also the ones most needed to take care of the ship. He didn’t say how many. He did say, he would go home, but not for quite awhile. And I believe Henk Minsink and Crystal are still onboard. 

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

What the crew members of all of the ships that have had to experience with so long periods of quarantine in a variety of places in order for them to get to their homes has been inhumane.  It's encouraging to see these videos that have been posted by these good people who are more restricted by what they can do than "We, the People".  God Bless Them!

 

 

The video was made by Angel before the Filipino crew went into quarantine. Since then, they have been housed in veranda cabins and isolated from each other. Holland America gave them books to read. Suggested websites for free books and also free WI-FI. 
 

Duterte demanded the quarantine results be expedited, but there are still lots like too many ships to count in Manila Bay!

2 hours ago, slotl said:

this is the message that I got from my waiter from last year's world cruise.  Slam is currently on the Eurodam and this is his message: 

 We have 500 filipino..480 already dis embark..start on may 22nd,still about 20 left...but the regulation is we cannot go to Iondonesia until all filipino crew all disembark... More than 20 days we wait for the swab test result for all the filipino crew...in indonesia the swab test result only 7 days....its very2 slow...

The Eurodam was one of the first ships in Manila Bay. Just got a message from Jarrie, the barista on the Amsterdam. She said she hasn’t gotten here swab results yet. So not everyone is off the Amsterdam either.

8 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

HAL crew members not mentioned, but here's an article about those being repatriated and quarantined in Manila

 

https://my.xfinity.com/articles/news-general/20200530/AS--Virus-Outbreak-Philippines-Quarantine-Gridlock-2c12

Yesterday Theresa posted a live video feed of one tender with what looked like hardly any crew inside traveling to the port in Manila. Wish you could have heard the screams of joy as they approached the dock and the buses. It looked like there were about three, maybe four tenders from the Amsterdam delivering crew to Manila. They must have been keeping social distancing in side. Presty said the day before 65 Filipino crew  departed. Amsterdam is still in Manila Bay so it looks like they still have to wait until everyone has departed.
 

I believe, I had read that they were using hotels for quarantining the Filipino crew, but later decided to use the cruise ships for the 14 day quarantine. So hopefully, the staff that just left will indeed go directly home. 

Theresa, DRM Wine Steward, received her notifications that she has tested negative for the virus. So she should be repatriated soon. So far no news from her friends, including Josephine (DRM Receptionist).

Philip Stolte has been biking 50 miles for the past several days. Got lost today. But eventually made his way home.

The Westerdam is already in Manila Bay. Some of the crew from the Amsterdam have already departed for home, all males. Female Filipinos still onboard. But it looks like the end is close as Theresa, DRM Wine Steward just got notified that she is now on the list of those who have tested negative. But her friends haven’t. Josephine DRM receptionist is still waiting.

A friend on the Koningsdam has posted that the Koningsdam has been gathering crew from a variety of ships of the same nationality so that they can fly home to their countries. They tried to repatriate the Peruvians, but their country won’t let them in. The ship is anchored in Puerto Vallarta Bay. Docks when they repatriate crew.

21 minutes ago, Storylady said:

It is May 26th in Manila. Theresa, one of the Amsterdam DRM Wine Stewards just posted that Captain Jonathan and Karen left the Amsterdam yesterday.

 

Today DRM Wine Steward posted that he had received his disembarkation packet. It looks like the Filipino crew will disembark today. So thrilled for everyone. They tried to keep their spirits up, but it really must have been hard with the sight of Manila so close and not being able to go ashore.

 

 

 

Russell is one of the lucky Filipinos that is disembarking today. But unfortunately not all the Filipinos have been released. Thought it would be everyone. But apparently not!

It is May 26th in Manila. Theresa, one of the Amsterdam DRM Wine Stewards just posted that Captain Jonathan and Karen left the Amsterdam yesterday.

Today DRM Wine Steward posted that he had received his disembarkation packet. It looks like the Filipino crew will disembark today. So thrilled for everyone. They tried to keep their spirits up, but it really must have been hard with the sight of Manila so close and not being able to go ashore.

4 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Yes, in police code, he would definitely be "10-7" 😉  We won't see him back to work until the fall, at the earliest, prob more like winter

I had to look the code up: “out of service”. He definitely needs it after all the adventures aboard the Amsterdam. The saga still continues. Hopefully, the Filipino crew will depart soon now that Captain Jereon is aboard.

21 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

 

Thanks Sharon; Yes, I did read Philip's FB account; Happy for him to make it home after a mere 8 months onboard A'dam

Did you see the photo of him crashed out on the couch with caption, “the Flying Dutchman is out of business”?

Delete

Sheryll reported on Facebook today (9 hours ago) that a shoreside tender picked up Captain Jereon yo take to the Amsterdam. So Captain Jonathan maybe saying goodbye to the Amsterdam and finally retiring very soon.

Few minutes past noon today, the ship’s tender picked Jeroen up shoreside. Jeroen is now safely onboard the Amsterdam, together with the myriad of floating ships in Manila Bay. 

2 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

A bus to Bali?

That is what Waya said. I am sure that they also had to take a ferry. He said it would take 24 hours.

The Filipino crew are still onboard the Amsterdam. They are hoping that they will be released on Monday (late Sunday our time). Just heard from Dining Room Steward Waya that he is finally home in Bali after 14 days quarantine in a hotel, a 24 hours bus ride to Bali.. and now he has to do another 14 day quarantine at home. But at least he is with his family.

We just received we were getting a refund for a canceled flight from Ft Lauderdale home. We were excited until we saw the amount. More than $600 less than what we should have received and it was very late in coming. So HAL isn’t the only one.

56 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

His crew, and wife K1, gave him a surprise retirement party in the Main Stage but I don't believe he's off as of yet

 

 

 

 

 

We 

Captain Jonathan is still onboard as his replacement is still in the Philippines, Captain Jereon Schuchmann. But Philip Stolte, Operations manager made it home to Amsterdam. He posted yesterday from Doha and from Schiphol Airport that “the Eagle Has Landed.” 

Russell, our wine steward on the Amsterdam, just posted this you-tube video of the Amsterdam crew thanking Holland America. There is a short clip by the Captain with words of encouragement to the crew. Plus at the end there are photos of some of the Filipino crew with a sign saying Salamat HAL. I recognized Teresa, Josephine, Russell, our hairdresser and several others. 
 

Philip Stolte, Restaurants Operation Manager on the Amsterdam is finally flying home. He posted this message while flying.

”i am in the air 😃 on my way to Doha with Qatar airlines, super service, super fast wifi for 10 dollars.” By Philip.

As for the Filipino crew, they are still on board, but it is getting close. One of the Dining  Room Wine Stewards, Russell, has posted that he has his certificate and is no longer in quarantine.

8 hours ago, Storylady said:

I don’t think so. His relief, Jereon Schuchmann was walking in the rain from the photos I saw yesterday. The crew are still onboard. The test results are back, but it sounds like someone alphabetized all crew from all the ships in the bay into one long list. They need a paper that they says they are okay to exit the ship. Philip Stolte was suppose to depart the Amsterdam on the 21st. That would be sometime today. Will be interesting to see if he actually can depart and get on the plane for Amsterdam.

Philip just posted on Facebook that he is going home.

”After 8 months it is time to go home, i am not so good in saying goodbye, i crye like a little baby, half of the Philipino crew is out of QT hopefully the rest will follow soon, looks like most of the crew on board will leave soon, probaly within a week or two, now it is time to go back to the real world, will be weird.” By Philip Stolte 

4 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

I wonder if Captain Jonathan is off the ship now, no news lately..

I don’t think so. His relief, Jereon Schuchmann was walking in the rain from the photos I saw yesterday. The crew are still onboard. The test results are back, but it sounds like someone alphabetized all crew from all the ships in the bay into one long list. They need a paper that they says they are okay to exit the ship. Philip Stolte was suppose to depart the Amsterdam on the 21st. That would be sometime today. Will be interesting to see if he actually can depart and get on the plane for Amsterdam.

23 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

Update from Manila Bay;  Nothing appears easy in the world we currently live in! Typhoon VongFong (AMBO) is approaching the Philippines from the south, forcing the closure of the port of Manila and all airline flights postponed and/or cancelled until Midnight on May 16th. Several of the 23 cruise ships in Manila Bay, incl. Eurodam, have already left the bay to head to open sea in an attempt to stay clear of the approaching typhoon and its powerful winds and rain. Amsterdam will soon follow and head to open sea and will try again to disembark her non-essential Filipino crew again after VongFong passes. What is a mother to do............

 

 

 

Due to the Typhoon Philip Stolte has now posted he will fly home on the 21st of May.

”Surprise, surprise, now flying home on the 21st !” Posted by Philip Stolte.

I wrote to my TA after the cruise credit from cancelled Cruises was applied to the World Cruise. She said that refunds are taking longer due to the sheer volume. With all cruises from middle of March to almost the end of the year cancelled. I would suspect that it is impossible to give an accurate date as to when everyone will get their money back. Nothing like this has ever happened.